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Welcome to a creative haven and manifestation of unique ideas and contributions. 

Romanceatron will be launching a monthly theme with all content revolving around this one theme. It will offer a spectrum of elements and influences for the reader to dine upon, from modern to retro to classical to the plain unmitigated brilliance all diviners have to offer. The aim is to create a cyber-space atelier where readers learn, appreciate and forage freely! We will encourage reader input and dedicate a section to reader interaction.

Romanceatron theme for Issue One is “Birthday”.

To contribute or find out more about what romanceatron is all about send a hello to - romanceatron@gmail.com

Happy Birthday to us...

We hope you like our Birth Day Issue cover (top right of the page). We drew inspiration from the album “On the Wires of Our Nerves” by the now defunct UK electronic group Add N to (X). Their second album was released in 1998 on Mute Records which is home to Australian living legends Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Brighton based indie band Electric Soft Parade and Underworld (you know that band with the Born Slippy song-another birth!). Add n to (X) are kind of Romance-A-Tron heroes not only because their music is a warped meld of mind fuck synth, useful when traveling in large cites and traversing through thousands of robotic commuters. But also because of their use of old school analogue Moog synthesizers to create their electro-clash sounding machine noise straight from the year 3000. Our personal favourite is their single Metal Fingers In My Body. 

Baby cakes

We think these cute little cupcakes creations are a perfect birthday gift (especially for the weight conscious!) Anne Farrell studied at the Claremont School of Art and the West Australian School of Art Design & Multimedia at Perth Central TAFE. Having received a Diploma of Fine Art & Design in 2000 she then went on to complete a Bachelor of Art at Curtin University. She has exhibited at Perth Galleries, Free Range,Keith & Lottie just to name a few. "I've recently made these little cakes and desserts from all the plastic lids, beads and buttons that I collect. They are inspired by things such as Tupperware, plastic toys from the 1970's and 80's and trips to Miss Maud with my mum." Working as a primary school Art Specialist Teacher Anne says her main aim is to express ideas and depict feelings through non-figurative metaphor. “I make and sometimes draw or paint objects, mainly constructing them from readily available materials like cardboard boxes and other found objects because I like them to be imperfect.” “Working with kids has become a big inspiration for me. The intention of my recent work is to capture some of the charm of children's artwork and recapture my own childhood experiences. Check out more of Anne’s amazing art at her blog.

Romance-A-Song

Although it has almost nothing to do with our monthly theme of Birthday we couldn’t not have this album featured, mostly because of its Romantic cover art by legendary photographer Richard Avedon (and of course it's amazing album title).

Romance Is On The Rise by South African bombshell Geneviève Waïte was released in 1973 with some help from her then hubby Mama and Papa John Phillips (Geneviève and John are Mama and Papa of Bijou Philips).

The kooky album is perfect for Sunday afternoons baking cupcakes and spring-cleaning. The biggest single “Biting my Nails” was later covered rather scarily by Renegade Soundwave in 1987 complete with Day-Glo video clip, synth piano and brass section. Personally the original is the best.

Geneviève’s singing style could be classed as Yé-yé girl pop, a movement from the 60’s that originated in France. Yé-yé meaning Yeah Yeah, one of the most famous Yé-yé girls being Françoise Hardy, a French Beauty incarnate.

Unhappy Birthday

The single 'Unhappy Birthday', off the Smiths Strangeways Here We Come (the legendary bands' last original release), reinforced the spoilt brat undertones of Morrissey’s attitude throughout the whole album's recording process. The band is said to have broken up during the recording of the album and consequently Morrissey, realising he was principally responsible for the split of one of the greatest song writing partnerships is pop history with Jonny Marr, has a tanty with songs like—'I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish', 'I Won’t Share You', 'Paint A Vulgar Picture' and of course 'Unhappy Birthday'. Thought to be their somewhat shabolic mess album, it’s still amazing, and of course Moz shines through with his unrelentingly funny take on his oh-so-important life. A must have in all itunes libraries.

Naked Man by Donna Brown

Up here in the Northern Hemisphere it is springtime (or it may be summer now but it is never really hot enough to qualify) and when the day gives me sunshine and the bluest skies I plan an outfit deserving such weather. The perfect spring attire for me is a floaty, flirty dress of florals, spots or stripes paired with ballet flats, a floppy hat and big retro glasses...something girly and romantic enough for sipping bubbly and nibbling cupcakes in the sunshine amongst the flowers. Sadly the majority of people who flock to the parks here in Germany do not share my views, no folks, they favour their birthday suits. For me flesh is not a valid clothing choice and yet full frontal nudity blooms here alongside the daffodils.

Call me prudish, really, I don't mind, I probably am. For me nudity should be contained at home or in designated government approved areas, like hard to reach nude beaches with a bad reputation, somewhere where those that want it can get it and those that don't can venture out safely without becoming a victim of eyeball rape. I have no interest in seeing it sprawled flabbily in my local inner city park. An innocent stroll on a deliciously warm Sunday afternoon becomes an unwanted flesh fest as I try desperately hard not to see the budgie smugglers flopping about ungraciously in the daisy patch, the boobs bobbing in the breeze or the g-stringed butts growing from the grass. All this nudity of course attracts some unwanted sinister behaviour slash attention in the form of fully clothed weirdos in nylon parkas who lurk in the shadier patches with zoom lens camera in hand and who-knows what on their mind (or in the other hand for that matter!).

On the upside (I will always endeavor to find one) at least all this nudity helps me with distinguishing the change in seasons. There is this man who lives in the apartment opposite me, I call him naked man, as he often is in the warmer months. Without him I may never have registered the arrival of spring. Having been so busy at work recently that I practically ceased to exist and having lost track of both the day and the month I had failed to notice the shift in weather. I looked out my kitchen window on a sunny morning and there was naked man in all his glory lounging amongst white draperies on his balcony—AH! Spring.

Naked man acts as my living breathing human weather report, which is convenient, as I have no time to watch the news. A quick look out the window is all I need to determine the day ahead, for example—

Naked man present on balcony splayed on turkish rugs, face to sunshine like some strange large flesh coloured bloom, hot day ahead 30 degrees or more.

Naked man on balcony in armchair-white linen cocoon smoking a cigarette, warm day expected, mid to high 20's

Naked man present inside balcony doorway basking in sunshine in catlike manner, mild sunny weather, low 20's

Naked man dressed, cooler day, take a cardigan.

Naked man absent but bottle of wine or other random food/beverage item chilling on balcony, no sunshine expected, take coat and possibly umbrella.

So today being slightly overcast veering towards depressing, naked man is unaccounted for. I guess this means I can go frolic in the park undisturbed and of course fully clothed.